Hjalmar Welhaven
Encyclopedia
Hjalmar Welhaven was a Norwegian architect, palace manager, and sportsman.
as the son of writer Johan Sebastian Welhaven
and Josephine Angelica Bidoluac. He married painter Margrethe Petersen Backer in 1876. His aunts were Maren Sars
and writer Elisabeth Welhaven
, and he was a cousin of historian Ernst Sars
, biologist Georg Sars
and singer Eva Nansen
. He was a brother-in-law of painter Harriet Backer
and pianist and composer Agathe Backer Grøndahl
. He was the father of sculptor Sigri Welhaven
.
in Christiania in 1870. He later studied architecture in Hannover, and started practicing as an architect from 1875. In 1883 he was appointed manager for the Royal Palace
in Oslo by King Oscar II
, and he was also responsible for the Bygdøy Royal Estate
and the Oscarshall
castle. From 1905 he continued in this position for King Haakon VII of Norway, until he retired in 1920.
Besides his duties as a palace manager, he continued his architectural work.
Among his designs were the tourist cabins Glitterheim
and Gjendebu
, and Polhøgda
, the home of Fridtjof
and Eva Nansen
. He also designed several private houses in Oslo.
He was an eager sportsman, a member of the ski club Christiania Skiklub from its foundation in 1877, and participated in organizing the first ski jumping
competition Husebyrennet in 1879. He chaired the rowing club Christiania Roklub
from 1890 to 1891. His collection of ski
s from all over the country was shown at the Jubileum exhibition at Frogner
in 1914. The collection was the basis for the ski collection at Holmenkollen Ski Museum
, the world's oldest ski museum, when it opened at Frognerseteren in 1923. The museum was relocated to the Holmenkollen ski arena
in 1951.
Personal life
Welhaven was born in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as the son of writer Johan Sebastian Welhaven
Johan Sebastian Welhaven
Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven was a Norwegian author, poet, critic and art theorist.-Background:...
and Josephine Angelica Bidoluac. He married painter Margrethe Petersen Backer in 1876. His aunts were Maren Sars
Maren Sars
Maren Cathrine Sars was a Norwegian socialite.-Personal life:She was born in Bergen as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer...
and writer Elisabeth Welhaven
Elisabeth Welhaven
-Personal life:She was born in Bergen as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer . She was a sister of Johan Sebastian and Maren Sars....
, and he was a cousin of historian Ernst Sars
Ernst Sars
Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars was a Norwegian historian, publicist and editor. His main work was Udsigt over den norske Historie, four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878, and Nyt Tidsskrift from 1882 to 1887...
, biologist Georg Sars
Georg Sars
Georg Ossian Sars was a Norwegian marine biologist.Georg Ossian Sars was born on April 20, 1837, in Kinn, Norway , the son of Michael Sars and Maren Sars; the historian Ernst Sars was his elder brother, and the singer Eva Nansen was his younger sister. He grew up in Manger, Hordaland, where his...
and singer Eva Nansen
Eva Nansen
Eva Helene Nansen was a celebrated Norwegian mezzosoprano singer. She was also a pioneer of women's skiing.-Personal life:...
. He was a brother-in-law of painter Harriet Backer
Harriet Backer
Harriet Backer was a Norwegian painter who achieved recognition in her own time and was a pioneer among female artists both in the Nordic countries and in Europe generally...
and pianist and composer Agathe Backer Grøndahl
Agathe Backer Grøndahl
Agathe Backer-Grøndahl was a Norwegian pianist and composer.She was born in Holmestrand, but in 1857 moved with her family to Oslo, where she studied with Otto Winther-Hjelm, Halfdan Kjerulf and Ludvig Mathias Lindeman. From 1865 she studied in Berlin, where she won fame with her interpretation of...
. He was the father of sculptor Sigri Welhaven
Sigri Welhaven
Sigri Welhaven was a Norwegian sculptor. She was the daughter of Hjalmar Welhaven, and her first husband was Jean Heiberg. She lived in Paris from 1919 to 1939. She has made busts of Thorvald Lammers, Halvdan Koht, Hauk Aabel and Sem Sæland...
.
Career
Welhaven was a student at the Den kongelige tegneskoleNorwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
in Christiania in 1870. He later studied architecture in Hannover, and started practicing as an architect from 1875. In 1883 he was appointed manager for the Royal Palace
Royal Palace, Oslo
The Royal Palace in Oslo was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of Norwegian and Swedish king Charles III and is the official residence of the present Norwegian Monarch. The crown prince couple resides at Skaugum in Asker west of Oslo...
in Oslo by King Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
, and he was also responsible for the Bygdøy Royal Estate
Bygdøy Royal Estate
Bygdøy Royal Estate occupies a large part of the northwestern part of the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, Norway. It is the official summer residence of the King of Norway.- History :The estate originally belonged to the Cistercian monastery on Hovedøya...
and the Oscarshall
Oscarshall
Oscarshall castle is located in the small fjord Frognerkilen on Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway.- History :The castle was built from 1847 to 1852 by the Danish architect Johan Henrik Nebelong for King Oscar I...
castle. From 1905 he continued in this position for King Haakon VII of Norway, until he retired in 1920.
Besides his duties as a palace manager, he continued his architectural work.
Among his designs were the tourist cabins Glitterheim
Glitterheim
Glitterheim is a mountain cabin in Jotunheimen, Norway, owned by the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association . The cabin lies 1,384 meters above sea level, at the foot of the mountain Glittertind. It was designed by architect Hjalmar Welhaven, and built in 1901.-External Links:...
and Gjendebu
Gjendebu
Gjendebu is the oldest cabin of the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association . The cabin lies 995 metres above sea level, by the western end of the lake Gjende, central in Jotunheimen. It is accessible by hiking along marked trails, or by boat over Gjende from Gjendesheim...
, and Polhøgda
Polhøgda
Polhøgda is a property between Lysaker and Fornebu in Bærum, Norway.-Use by Fridtjof Nansen:The property originally belonged to Fornebo farm, but was separated from the farm in 1897. Construction on the property took place in 1900 and 1901. It was the home of Fridtjof Nansen and Eva Nansen from...
, the home of Fridtjof
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
and Eva Nansen
Eva Nansen
Eva Helene Nansen was a celebrated Norwegian mezzosoprano singer. She was also a pioneer of women's skiing.-Personal life:...
. He also designed several private houses in Oslo.
He was an eager sportsman, a member of the ski club Christiania Skiklub from its foundation in 1877, and participated in organizing the first ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
competition Husebyrennet in 1879. He chaired the rowing club Christiania Roklub
Christiania RK
Christiania Roklub is a rowing club from Oslo, Norway.Established in 1878, it is based in Frognerkilen in the Oslofjord, not far from Skarpsno...
from 1890 to 1891. His collection of ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
s from all over the country was shown at the Jubileum exhibition at Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
in 1914. The collection was the basis for the ski collection at Holmenkollen Ski Museum
Holmenkollen Ski Museum
Holmenkollen Ski Museum , located at the base of the Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo, Norway, is the world's oldest ski museum, being founded in 1923....
, the world's oldest ski museum, when it opened at Frognerseteren in 1923. The museum was relocated to the Holmenkollen ski arena
Holmenkollen ski jump
Holmenkollbakken is a large ski jumping hill located at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. It has a hill size of HS134, a construction point of K-120, and a capacity for 30,000 spectators. Holmenkollen has hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892, which since 1980 have been part of the FIS Ski...
in 1951.